Frank E. Curtis awarded two federal grants to advance optimization research
Frank E. Curtis, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Lehigh University, has been awarded two federal research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). These awards, totaling more than $675,000, will further support his pioneering work in mathematical optimization, algorithm design, and their applications to pressing challenges in science and engineering.
Lehman honored with 2026 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty Achievement Award
Michael S. Lehman, professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics and director of Lehigh University’s Technical Entrepreneurship (TE) program, received the 2026 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty Achievement Award at the annual 2026 Innovate! Celebrate! event on April 28.
Lehigh ISE faculty elected as a Director of the IISE Data Analytics and Information Systems Division
We are pleased to announce that Lehigh ISE Assistant Professor Meng Zhao has been elected as a Director of the Data Analytics and Information Systems Division (DAIS) of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) for 2026-2028.
Vermaak leads NSF DMREF workshop on materials for rotating detonation engines
Recently, MechE Prof. Natasha Vermaak led her team including Profs. L. Valdevit, D. Mumm, X. Shi, at UC Irvine and Prof. M. Taheri-Mousavi at Carnegie Mellon University to host a workshop by invitation only for over 35 leaders in industry, government labs, and academia working at the cutting edge of materials technologies for rotating detonation engines (RDEs) (Figure 1).
Lehigh ISE Faculty Member to Chair the Bilevel Optimization Society
Lehigh ISE Professor Ted Ralphs has been elected Chair-Elect of the Bilevel Optimization Society (BOS). He will serve a one-year term as Chair-Elect before assuming a two-year term as Chair, followed by one year as Past Chair. Bilevel optimization is a field of optimization that addresses hierarchical optimization problems in which a leader (upper level) decides the values of a set of decision variables and a follower (lower level) reacts by solving a problem that depends on the leader’s choice.
National defense program selects Lehigh Engineering professor Keith Moored
Keith Moored, a professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, was recently selected to join the Defense Science Study Group (DSSG), a highly selective program that connects leading academic researchers with U.S. national security challenges. Moored is one of just 18 academics selected from more than 150 nominated by universities across the country for the class of 2027-28.
Engineering smart hydrogels: New project aims to advance tissue regeneration
Engineering complex human tissues in a laboratory setting has long been a major goal for regenerative medicine and disease modeling. To help overcome the significant challenge of recreating the intricate environments of the human body, E. Thomas Pashuck, an assistant professor of bioengineering in Lehigh University’s P.C.
Lehigh CEE faculty contribute to ASCE award-winning climate and infrastructure book
Two faculty members from Lehigh University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have contributed to a book recognized with the 2026 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) State-of-the-Art of Civil Engineering Award.
Himanshu Jain earns Fulbright Specialist Award for Spain
Lehigh University professor Himanshu Jain has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award to collaborate on global engineering education and materials science research initiatives in Spain. The award, granted by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, supports short-term international knowledge exchange and the development of engineering education partnerships.